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Atlanta Hawks: 2010s All-Decade team

By Daniel Lindsey

Atlanta Hawks Jeff Teague Al Horford Paul Millsap (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Atlanta Hawks Jeff Teague Al Horford Paul Millsap (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks Mike Budenholzer
Atlanta Hawks Mike Budenholzer (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Coach of the decade: Mike Budenholzer

In considering the Atlanta Hawks’ coach of the decade, we truly only had three coaches for consideration. Mike Woodson led the Hawks to a 53-29 record and an appearance in the Eastern Conference semifinals, but since he was replaced by his assistant, Larry Drew, the following season, Woodson loses out pretty quickly.

Lloyd Pierce hasn’t been in charge of this team very long during Travis Schlenk’s rebuild, but hasn’t performed very well and is in charge of a team that has the second-worst record in the NBA.

That leaves us with Drew and Mike Budenholzer contending for coach of the decade. Let’s take a quick snapshot at their accomplishments during their tenure.

Drew’s accomplishments

  • Regular season record: 128-102, .557
  • Playoffs record: 10-14,.417
  • Playoff appearances: three out of three seasons, reached second round once
  • Avg. offensive rating: 105.2
  • Avg. defensive rating: 104.2

Budenholzer’s accomplishments

  • Regular season record: 213-197, .520
  • Playoffs record: 17-22, .436
  • Playoff appearances: four out of five seasons, reached Eastern Conference Finals once
  • Avg. offensive rating: 106.0
  • Avg. defensive rating: 105.4

Based on regular-season records alone, Drew comes out on the better end of the deal, despite Budenholzer accomplishing 60 wins in 2014-15. Drew didn’t experience a losing season either, but if Budenholzer hadn’t had his roster gutted in the summer of 2017, he may not have either.

Neither had great success in the playoffs either, but Budenholzer did reach the conference finals the same year the Hawks notched 60 wins. Offensively, Budenholzer’s teams were a little stronger, but Drew’s teams were slightly stronger defensively.

Despite Drew’s mild success, Atlanta’s coach of the decade should probably go to Budenholzer. He got the Hawks within striking distance of playing for an NBA championship and helped them notch their only 60-win season, all while making personnel decisions for most of his coaching career in Atlanta.

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